Clonidine stories, please

My doctor prescribed 0.2 taken 3 times a day as needed for anxiety and hypertension.

But I get home and read that Clonidine must be taken consistently for high blood pressure, not "as needed".

Also, it makes me very sleepy so I guess it's helping with my anxiety. Can I take a lot and get zonked out?

by Anonymous

reply 14

11/23/2012

My BP was 172/102. When he told me that, I nearly had a panic attack.

by Anonymous

reply 1

11/22/2012

OP, I'm not familiy with Clonodine as for anxiety, but I am for BP. I have been on it 4 years (afer nont going to doctors for years, I finally did - cirulatory problems in the legs, mainly - and I started out wih 135/115(!)(NOT making this up; was in the ER; doctor observed, "this is a body in distress". No shit. Own fault, for years of not getting it checked.)

I was put on: Clonodine - 0.2, 2 times a day, and have been on anything from 2-4 other meds besides it. Been consistently "lower" for over a year: usually 130 over 60-80. Am hugely overweigh, which doesn't help (AM trying to lose.)

I see different specialists; occasionally one comments on Clonodine being "an old drug." NOT in a bad way, just matter of fact. "old" might mean younger doctors have some "newer" BP pills they like.

Bu I do well with the Clonodine; it's been my faithful stalwart. Again: not familiar with it for anxiety, though, but think it's nice that you're sleepy; as somone who gets 2-3 hours a night, you're lucky.

There are various side effects of any medication. And I've been on Ativan and Ambien and neither much help me sleep. But if you get TOO drowsy (like I was on ill-adivsed dose of Haldol for 6 months!), I would chekc with your dr.

Sorry to go on and on.

by Anonymous

reply 2

11/22/2012

One word-Trazodone.

by Anonymous

reply 3

11/22/2012

Thanks for the stories. It definitely has a calming effect.

by Anonymous

reply 4

11/22/2012

I can't imagine prescribing anything on an "as needed" basis for hypertension, or any other ailment that ordinarily has no obvious symptoms. If your MD did that,OP, you have every reason to be anxious.

by Anonymous

reply 5

11/22/2012

I thought that was strange, too, R5. I went to a welfare type free clinic for anxiety where they discovered my BP was so high. Clonidine is supposed to help lower BP, but for anxiety the instructions probably always say "as needed" and that's what was printed on the label.

It has a wonderful calming effect -and it's not even a benzo!

by Anonymous

reply 6

11/22/2012

OP/r6 it is normal for your blood pressure to spike during an anxiety attack. Go check it tomorrow and for the next few days. Many large pharmacies and supermarkets have free blood pressure machines. If your bp is normal just take it as neeeded for anxiety.

by Anonymous

reply 7

11/22/2012

Ask for Klonopin instead. You'll be a happy camper.

by Anonymous

reply 8

11/22/2012

My MD prescribed propanolol, a heart medication, for anxiety. It stops the chain reaction that results from your heart racing with anxiety. It worked for me.

by Anonymous

reply 9

11/22/2012

What I love about Clonidine is you can order it online and even if you got caught, it's not on one of those "schedules" you get in serious trouble for. Well, maybe some trouble, but it's not like trying to order hydrocodone or even valium. And it's very cheap. I've found it as low as 25 cents a pill.

I use it for anxiety and I actually like it better than benzodiazepines (I've tried valium - my favorite of the benzos, klonopin, ativan, another one I can't remember the name of.)

It's not as potent or as fast acting, but it works pretty well for me and I don't build up tolerance, as I tend to with other drugs.

by Anonymous

reply 10

11/22/2012

That sounds like a lot of Clonidine. I just take 0.1 and then if I'm still nervous an hour later, I take another one.

I guess if you need more for the blood pressure, then that would explain the dosage. Or are you a big person? I'm not. 140 pounds or so.

by Anonymous

reply 11

11/22/2012

Yeah, I weigh about 300. Can I safely take more than prescribed to fall asleep?

by Anonymous

reply 12

11/23/2012

Clonidine reduces my anxiety more than Ativan, which was very surprising.

by Anonymous

reply 13

11/23/2012

I don't know, R12. I did find this:

The therapeutic doses most commonly employed have ranged from 0.2 mg to 0.6 mg per day given in divided doses.

Studies have indicated that 2.4 mg is the maximum effective daily dose, but doses as high as this have rarely been employed.

You could Google and read about side effects and watch for them, and maybe go higher? Be sure to check on liver or kidney issues.

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